For the form-fluid fluent: The Dad Rock That Made Me A Woman
Local writer Niko Stratis opens her debut memoir describing a mythical mixtape her dad had made — and that’s very much how this strong, lived-in story of self-realization reads, like carefully handwritten notes on the inside of a cassette jacket. With this debut, Stratis turns “dad rock” from pejorative into personal history, mapping her own identity through the music and bridging divides in the process. — Michael Rancic
$34.95 at Queen Books
For healthy hearing: Loop Experience 2 Concert earplugs
Upgrade from pharmacy foam to high-fidelity concert earplugs with Belgian brand Loop. These reusable plugs have a great reputation for preserving sound quality while reducing loudness evenly across frequencies, so music stays crisp while your hearing stays protected. Comfortable, washable, and essential for frequent showgoers. —Michael Rancic
$49.95 at loopearplugs.com
For the punk populist: In Too Deep
Taking its name from the Sum 41 song, Matt Bobkin and Adam Feibel’s new book In Too Deep examines the mainstream breakthrough of Canadian punk bands like Billy Talent, Gob, Silverstein and Alexisonfire during the early 2000s. Full of first-hand accounts and in-depth research, it’s an absorbing read for Canadian rock fans. — Daniel G. Wilson
$26.99 at Type Books
For the passive-aggressive audiophile: isoAcoustics Aperta Sub XL Isolation Subwoofer Stand
Tired of your noisy neighbours rattling your kitchen cabinets? Invest in your sanity — gift them one of these subwoofer stands and they’ll thank you for improving the audio quality in their own apartment. — Tom Beedham
$250 each at Bay Bloor Radio
For the collaborative conversationalist: OFFFFFF the Record card game
No one has to go to bed mad after playing a card game designed not for competition but to ignite conversation. In this one, designed by Toronto’s DJ Shen, you get a cool retro cassette case packed with three levels of music-themed questions ranging from easy prompts to deep meditations. When your friend pulls it out of their pocket at your next party, prepare to compare your craziest concert experiences and leave with some new album recommendations. — Sarah Chodos
$34.99 at Sonic Boom
For the audio abolitionist: Palestine Drum Liberator
This drum machine was built to take the percussion heard at pro-Palestine protests and abstract it into sounds that can be played by musicians and activists alike. The sounds come from Palestinian DJ Omar Ahmad playing Arabic instruments like the oud, tabla and riq. It’s not available for sale, but the Sonic Liberation Devices website lays out the process of building one from scratch in great detail, encouraging followers to build their own. Pick up a breadboard or a PCB board for the circuit bender in your life. — Tom Beedham
$2.99+ at canadarobotix.com, instructions at sonicliberationdevices.com
For the freedom fighter: Soundtrack to the Revolution
As Canada responds to Trump’s tariffs with a new wave of reactionary conservatism, Eric Fillion’s historical account of anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist free jazz musicians of 1960s and ’70s Quebec arrives at a critical moment. From founding a socialist commune in the Eastern Townships to rubbing shoulders with Black Panther Party members, Montreal’s revolutionary Jazz Libre collective is the star in this book about how jazz sought to shape leftist politics during Quebec’s Quiet Revolution. — Tom Beedham
$24.95 at Another Story Bookshop
For the constantly commuting concertgoer: Project Nowhere 2025 Tote
Between the record store, groceries, and the gig, everyone has things to haul and places to be. Consider this deadstock tote from the 2025 edition of Project Nowhere, Toronto’s beloved West End music festival, for the venue-hopping music fan in your life — they can carry the fest’s nomadic spirit with them wherever they go. —Tom Beedham
$15 at projectnowhere.org
